Williams, who was covering the game, as a summariser for BBC Radio Stoke, says the 3-1 win in Sussex will give Vale heart for tonight's game, but more importantly for the rest of the League Two season.

He pulled no punches in his assessment of the team as they slid to relegation last season, but was impressed with what he saw from Michael Brown's new-look side in their first competitive action.

Williams said: "I thought it was a really good performance over an hour. I thought we really came under the cosh for 20 minutes in the second half and it was only after the third goal went in that I felt comfortable.

"There were some outstanding individual performances. Antony Kay was excellent and that could have largely overshadowed Nathan Smith, but Nathan did well against a brute of a centre forward."

Former Port Vale striker Ray Williams.

He said: "I felt a bit sorry for Tom Pope who was a bit isolated. I wonder of that is the way we will play, with a lone striker away from home, or whether that was just for the opening game.

"I was gobsmacked that Dan Turner didn't start but when he came on, on the left, I thought he did the most unselfish job I have seen for a long time. To score his first goal at the end was well deserved, especially because he was virtually playing at left back. I thought that was brilliant.

"I also thought Antony De Freitas was a pleasant surprise. He will develop into a decent player, so overall there were some really good individual performances and a good team performance."